Rainforest craft projects for kids

Written by jessica ann marie

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Make kids aware of rainforests and their importance through creative craft projects. (giant tree trunk base image by Marta Reimpell from Fotolia.com)

According to the Animal Corner website, rainforests are often described as "the jewels of the Earth." Kids will interested to know that half of the world's plant and animal species are native to the rainforest, while approximately 20 per cent of our oxygen is produced by the Amazon rainforest. Issues, such as deforestation, however, have resulted in significant concern over the past few years, as the area of Earth's surface covered by rainforest decreases each day. Help raise awareness of rainforests and their importance through fun and creative craft projects for kids.

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Hand and Foot Print Parrot

Trace a child's hand print and foot print onto a piece of red construction paper. Help the child to cut these out. The foot print will act as the parrot's body while the hand will act as the bird's wings. The child should glue the hand print to the side of the foot print. Next, using coloured pencils and paints, real feathers and other embellishments, such as glitter, allow the child to make his own rainforest parrot.

A child can make their own rainforest parrot using his hand and foot print. (parrot image by Mariusz Blach from Fotolia.com)

Rainforest Vine

Draw a leaf onto green construction paper. Make sure the leaf has a large, thick stem. Cut this template out. Ask a child to add detail such as leaf veins. Next, fold the stem of the leaf in half, and hook it over a piece of long, green string. Secure the leaf in place with tape. Make several more leaves and repeat. The child should then draw further templates onto coloured construction paper such as butterflies, snakes, caterpillars and iguanas. Cut these templates out, decorate them, and then tape to the string until you have a complete rainforest vine. Hang this vine up to the ceiling to enjoy your rainforest decoration.

Rain Stick

Get a cardboard tube. Place one end of the tube onto a sheet of cardboard, trace around the base, and cut this template out. Glue this onto one end of the tube to act as a cap. Next, roll a piece of tinfoil--about twice the length of the cardboard tube--into a strip, until it is 1/2 inch wide. Push this strip of tinfoil into the tube, zigzagging it back and forth so it fits. Next, pour 1/2 a cup of popcorn kernels into the tube. Cap the other end of the cardboard tube with another piece of cardboard. The child should then decorate the rain stick with colouring pens and markers.

Tie Snake

Cut one end of an old tie, and stuff two-thirds of it with poly fill or pillow stuffing. Next, insert a length of wire, such as a straightened clothes hanger, into the tie, making sure the tips of the wire are bent into circles so there are no sharp ends. Stuff the remaining part of the tie, and then sew or glue the ends of the tie together. Help the child to glue two googly eyes onto the tie as well as a tongue cut out of red felt.

Make a slippery rainforest snake with an old tie. (tie image by Joann Cooper from Fotolia.com)

Rainforest Binoculars

Get two cardboard tubes. Cover one of the tubes in glue, and wrap coloured crepe paper around it. Repeat with the other tube. The child should then decorate the tubes how they wish with crayons or colouring pens. Next, the tubes must be stuck together, either with glue or wrapped with tape. Punch a hole in either tube, near the end. Thread a long piece of yarn through both holes, knotting at the ends, to create a neck strap.